Barrow AFC 1Harriers 0 - FA Trophy 3rd rd

The Harriers tumbled out of the FA Trophy by a narrow margin at Barrow today. A second half goal from Richie Bennett was enough to see the home side through into the 4th rd while we can now concentrate on overtaking Fylde at the top of the table starting at Stalybridge this coming Tuesday evening.

Although it was a disappointment to exit the Trophy that was tempered by the news that Salford had done us a massive favour by thrashing Fylde 5-0 at Moor Lane. The win leapfrogs Salford above us in the league but we now have two games in hand on both sides.

There was something of a surprise when the lineup was announced with lynchpin Ryan Croasdale ruled out through injury with Mani Dieseruvwe and Tyrell Waite back in the side. Ashley Carter replaced Croasdale while Andre Brown and Darryl Knights both dropped to the bench. That move was possibly our downfall with Carter being more solid than creative while Waite was unable to make the kind of impact on the game that Knights could have done. As it was substitutions were made too late in the game and, apart from the final five minutes of the game, we hardly had a sniff of a goal.

We were the better side in the opening stages of the game with our neat football compared to Barrows aerial version but it was our defence that was the busier of the two. We went close with two chances that we should have done something with if it wasn't for the poor finishing. Elton N'Gwatala fluffed his lines by sending his shot wide and then Arthur Gnahoua did likewise when well placed to bury the ball into the Barrow net. Before that Moussa Diarra had put his header from a free kick wide and Bennett had volleyed wide from the edge of the area.

New boy Shaun Tuton had a good chance to open his account after he signed on loan from Barnsley but his back header from a throw in went across the goal line without anyone able to tap it home. Diarra had another chance when he stooped to head a Paul Turnbull free kick just wide once again.

Just before the break Barrows Shaun Beeley's name was entered into the referees notebook after he followed through on Josh Ezewele after he had already lost the ball. Of course the Barrow fans saw it differently thinking it was a perfectly fair challenge.

HT: 0 - 0

By the time the second half of the game started Barrow had got wise to our ball playing side of the game and we failed to change accordingly. We had chances to score but they were only half chances with Dieseruvwe failing to pull the trigger on his chance and Elton hesitating too long with the moment lost. Barrow took the lead soon after and kept it.

Tuton played in a ball from the by-line on the right along the face of the goal and there was Richie Bennett unmarked at the far post to turn the ball home from close range. That seemed to be the signal for Barrow to keep what they had and just defend for the remainder of the game.

The Harriers plugged away and saw a Gnahoua shot blocked on the line until it was obvious that changes needed to be made. Jordan Tunnicliffe had just picked up a knock that left him needing lengthy treatment so Darryl Knights came on for him and then a few minutes later on came Liam Truslove and Sam Austin for Tyrell Waite Tyrone Williams. At last we had got some pace on the pitch and we began to look more like an attacking side.

James McQuilkin came oh so close to drawing us level with a shot that was heading for the top corner but again we saw the chance blocked on the line and then in the dying minutes of the four minutes added on keeper Jon Flatt dived low at his left hand post to deny a superb rising header from Keith Lowe. It was the save that saw the Harriers exit the FA Trophy and dreams of Wembley for another year but at least we have the league title to, hopefully, steal from the grasp of AFC Fylde to look forward to.